R 850 R

1996 BMW R 850 R Technical Analysis & Specification Breakdown

Positioned in BMW's naked motorcycle lineup, the 1996 BMW R 850 R pairs a 848 cc (51.7 cu in) two cylinder boxer, four-stroke architecture with road-focused gearing. In factory specification, peak output is rated at 70 HP (51.1 kW) at 7,000 rpm while maximum torque reaches 75.5 Nm (55.7 lb-ft) at 5,500 rpm, transferring power to the rear wheel through a 5-speed gearbox. With a specific output of 82.5 HP per liter and a 1,500 rpm working window between peak torque (5,500 rpm) and peak power (7,000 rpm), the engine character is indicating a tractable, stress-free state of tune focused on everyday usability and broad torque delivery.

On the scales, the R 850 R measures 235 kg (518 lbs) wet (curb), translating to a power-to-weight ratio of 0.3 HP/kg (3.36 kg per horsepower). Rider ergonomics and chassis geometry center around a 780 mm (30.7 in) seat height — offering a neutral standover height that accommodates most average-inseam riders without sacrificing cornering clearance.

Within MotoLibrary's BMW archive, this model family spans 11 indexed model years from 1996 to 2006, allowing buyers to track year-over-year changes in emissions tuning, weight and equipment.